Final Report for FNE95-110

Note to readers, attached is the complete final report for FNE95-110.

Despite more intensive initial weeding than expected, the living mulch system of White Dutch Clover complemented my overall farm plan quite well. I harvested flowers 15 days ahead of schedule and some varieties through the dry weather. I contributed this to the clovers’ ability of nitrogen fixation and moisture retaining capacity of the mulch it made. I was able to rotate the flower field back into a productive pasture without further disturbing the soil.

A pleasing discovery was that corrugated cardboard works very well as a biodegradable mulch. It is readily available to me at no cost, being a waste product from brooding turkeys. It was difficult to put down, but from past experience using plastic mulch, it’s no harder. I will continue to use it in the future.

A not so pleasing outcome of the season was the significant deer damage compared to years past. A thought is that the deer were initially attracted to the tender clover in between the rows of flowers and later found pumpkins and flowers to be more palatable.

• FNE95-110 Final Report